Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

• 

  2000 Tahoe - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By gatordan - April 28 - 9:34 pm

  Great vehicle. Plenty of power but slightly sluggish. Handles towing perfectly. Only issue I have is the engine is noisy when I first start it. Sounds like a diesel. Once it warms up, its fine. Im told that its piston slap and it wont harm the engine. So good so far.

• 

  Best Buy - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Kent - April 28 - 3:30 pm

  I purchased my Malibu Maxx in Dec of 2005 and already have 50,000 miles of trouble free, economical and handy driving. I say handy because the interior layout of the Maxx accomodates a 8 foot ladder with room to spare. I have averaged over 38 mpg several times driving I95 in Florida. I have rented a Dodge Caliber while traveling and find that it is no comparison to the Maxx. The Caliber is noisy and the interior is not nearly as nice as the Maxx. With the deals out there I highly recommend the Maxx. An excellent value that is underappreciated by most buyers.

• 

  The 49 Subur.. Um HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By RetroKid - April 28 - 9:50 am

  Overall the HHR is a great car to own. It is fun to drive and own. The gas mileage is better then the PT Cruiser (which I also own), and the features are great for a car in its price range. The instrument panel is designed well except for the almost out of reach window buttons. The interior room is solid for the front, Im a big man and I fit perfectly into the car, but legroom is a little tight in the rear. I would have liked to see more entertainment and other convenience features available for the LT models at least. Again overall its more fun to drive then the PT and is very stylish while maintaining a retro look.

• 

  Good Vehicle - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By scheurin - April 28 - 12:31 am

  Since our purchase of the 07 burb early this year we are more than satisfied. The Suburban has lots of space, a smooth ride and a really good looking dash. Fuel mileage is great even topping the advertized 15 city and 20 highway. Parking brakes were not set up correctly - they had to be fixed. Bulb changes are a horror. These issues are minor. There were no rattles so far and we love to feel safe in this vehicle.

• 

  SoCal Avalanche - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By TRG - April 27 - 12:11 pm

  This is my first domestic vehicle. This truck has wonderful fit and finish, and has appoinments similar to those you mind find in European cars. The power is impressive, though it seems a bit sluggish from a stoplight or in a passing lane. The poor MPG is well documented. I drove it from LA to Monteray (roughly 400 miles) at 75 with the cruise control...and still only averaged 14mpg. All of the luxury features are nice, and made well. Bluetooth is a feature this vehicle is missing, and GM has no real excuse for not equipping it on a $50+ truck.

• 

  Best Chevy SUV Ever - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Ben I - April 27 - 10:00 am

  Had this SUV for a year now. Not much mileage yet, but I took it for a couple long trips. Very smooth drive, with lots of power. No problems at all in the snow. Every thing seems to be in the perfect place in the driver seat. Great looking car, elegant with a touch of muscle. Noticed some vibrating /thumping on the brake pedal when braking on bumpy roads. And a loud fan noise sometimes when I start the car, but goes away as I drive away. Other than that Chevy Trailblazer is #1. WouldnÂ’t want to drive anything else.

• 

  Good SUV - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Tom50 - April 27 - 7:23 am

  Traded in a 2004 Nissan Xterra for the 2007 Equinox. The Equinox has much more interior room both in the front and rear seat and being over 6 foot tall I was surprised by the rear seat leg room. The ride is smooth and comfortable and compares favorably to my Nissan Altima. The gas mileage has been as advertised. It has so much more get up and go compared to the Xterra.

• 

  Chevy Equinox - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Chad - April 26 - 10:26 am

  When gasoline hit $4 a gallon, I knew it was time to get rid of the crew cab 4X4 and downsize to something else. I got an 09 Vibe GT, too small, for wife, kid and myself. Saw a new 10 Equinox, saw the gas mileage, could not believe it, test drove the new LTZ model, I am 66" and WOW, this thing feels like it is the next size bigger in the line of Crossovers. Great comfort, took it on our first trip, Ohio-Iowa, 750 miles one way, packed to the hilt, drove 75-80mph the whole way with the air on, and....... we got 28.5 mpg. I figure if I slowed down a little, it would probably get the 32 MPG, also, the motor is not yet broke in. Nice vehicle, sharp!! I got the Mocha steel, pretty!

• 

  Love it and fun to drive - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Cavfav - April 26 - 8:12 am

  This is my third car and my first one bought new. Bought it mainly because of the price tag, but love it more everyday I drive it. I did get keyless entry and a sound system installed on it. So it is enough for my everyday driving. Do my own oil change and have not had a problem with this car.

• 

  Impressed - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Gregg - April 26 - 7:39 am

  I received my Impala new in November of 2002 as my police patrol vehicle. This car has been outstanding! It came equipped with the 9C1 police package and has not disappointed me. It is very powerful with the 3.8L V-6, and the 4 wheel disc brakes are outstanding. I have 115,000 miles in less than 5 years and have not replaced the brakes. The interior room gets a little cramped in the front, but the trunk is huge and holds all of my junk with ease. This car is a vast improvement over the Lumina police car. The only repairs to date are new electric cooling fans and a catlytic converter covered under warranty. I would buy one for my own personal car